Grain breaker



E. LAXO I GRAIN BREAKER Filed July 21, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 ED LAXO.

INVENTOR March 18, 1941.

M h 18, 1941. I

E. LAXO GRAIN BREAKER Filed July 21, 1938 6 Sheet-Sheet 2 March 18, 1941. E. LAXO GRAIN BREAKER Filed July 21. 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet;

E. LAXO GRAIN BREAKER Filed July '21, 1938 March 18, 1941'.

6 Sheets-Sheet 4 E12 LAXO INVENTOR IIHI March 18, 1941. E. LAXO I GRAIN BREAKER Filed July 21, 19:58

6 Sheets-Sheet 5 ED LAxo INVENTQR' ATTORNEYS March 18, 1941. E. LAXO GRAIN BREAKER Filed July 21, 1938 G'Sheets-Sheet 6 NEYJ Patented Mar. 18, 1941 PATENT orrice.

GRAIN BREAKER Laxo, Riverside, 111., assignor to Owens-Illinois Can Company, a corporation of Delaware Application July 21, 1938, Serial No. 220,471

17 Claims.

' produced in this manner exhibits localized irregularities in the form of flattened areas which not only mar the appearance of the finished product, but also interfere with the subsequent soldering, flanging and seaming operations by means of which the disk-like ends of the can are attached to the can body.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an apparatus by means of which the physical properties of sheet metal blanks designed to be formed into can bodies, will .be altered or processed whereby the metal thereof is rendered what is known in the art as plastic in order that the blanks may immediately be put through the body making machine to produce can bodies havin uniform contours.

Another object of the invention isto provide an apparatus capable of and designed for attach- 'ment to an existing form of body making machine which will receive the body blanks in stacked relationship and will withdraw the blanks from the stack one at a time and deliver the same in rapid succession to a pair of processing rolls wherein the grain of the metal is broken and finally deliver the processed blanks to the feed carriage of the body making machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel means for withdrawing the blanks in rapid successionfrom a stack preparatory to delivery of the same to the processing rolls which means will effectively overcome the vacuum tendency of each blank to adhere to the stack by initially relieving the partial vacuum existing between adjacent blanks in the stack.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for processing and delivering sheet metal blanks to a can body making machine which includes a .pair of processing or breaker rolls and cooperating processing or breaker steels which are adjustable with respect to each other to accommodate blanks of varying thickness, ductility, malleability or hardness.

It is often desirable, particularly in connection with extremely tall cans which are to .be vacuumized, to provide can bodies with vertically spaced annular beads for strengthening the same against collapse. It has been the usual practice to form the can bodies and then, by a. separate operation, to subject the can body-to bead forming rolls. It has also been common practice to progressively bead the can body as it is progressively curved in the body making machine.

Because of the fact that according to the present invention the metal from which the blanks are formed is processed or rendered plastic, it is possible to head the can body blanks in the flat state simultaneously with the processing operation and immediately thereafter, before the metal has had time to become s'et, put the blanks through the body making machine to produce a substantially cylindrical cans having circumferential reinforcing beads thereon.

\ 20 It is another object of the invention therefore will additionally bead the blank while simulta- 25 neously processing the bead or beads in. order that the beaded blank may be put through the body making machine and shaped into cyli drical form without danger of localized irregularities occuring in the cylindrical regions or in the beaded regions of the finished can body.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description ensues.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the apparatus showing the same applied to a conventional can body forming machine;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; 1 i

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus taken transversely through a processing unit'employed in connection with the present invention. This view is taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 3a is a fragmentary rear elevational view of a modified form of processing unit employed in connection with the invention;

Fig. 3b is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 317-322 of Fig. 3a; 7

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an adjustable breaker steel element employed in connection 4 with the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a roller support employed in connection with the present invention;

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of a roller hearing housing employed in connection with the present invention;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line Iii-l0 of Fig. 9;

'Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line I |ll of Fig. 5;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line l2-l 2 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line l3l3 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 14 is a longitudinal section view taken through the apparatus, certain parts being shown in elevation, showing a vacuum cup assembly employed in connection with the present invention engaging a can blank preparatory to removing the same from a stack; and

Fig. 15 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 14 showing the blank removed from the stack preparatory to introduction thereof to the processing or breaker mechanism.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the conventional type of can body forming machine to which the improved feeding and processing apparatus is attached is designated in its entirety at 20 and includes a supporting structure 2| and a table portion 22 adapted to receive thereon successively the processed blanks B which are to be delivered to the forming roll or mandrel (not shown) of the machine. A suitable reciprocable feeder mechanism 23 is incorporated in the table portion 22 of the apparatus and is designed to rapidly propel the blanks B as they are delivered to the table portion 22 laterally to the forming mandrel. The mechanism thus far described is purely conventional in form and no claim is made to any novelty existing in connection therewith, the invention consisting in the feeding and processing apparatus which is attached to the body forming machine and which will now be fully described.

The feeding and processing apparatus involves in its general organization a casting 30 (Figs. 1 and 2) which is bolted as at 3| or otherwise secured to the table portion 22 of the forming machine. The casting 30 includes an open frame-like structure provided at the rear end (Fig. 2) thereof with a pair of upstanding supports 32' and 33 across the upper end of which there extends a cross bar 34. Adjustably secured to the casting 30 on opposite sides thereof and in the front region thereof are a pair of upstanding supports 35 and 36 across the upper end of which there extends a rock shaft 31. Loosely supported on the rear cross bar 34 and suspended from the rock shaft 31 by means of suspension clamps 38 (Figs. 1 and 3) are a pair of longitudinal bars 39 and 40. A pair of side stack supports 4| are adjustably clamped as at 42 to the longitudinal bar 39, while a similar pair of stack supports 43 are likewise adjustably clamped to the longitudinal bar 40. A front stack support 44 (Figs. 1 and 3) is ad- Justably clamped as at 45 to the rock shaft 31. A rear stack support (Figs 1 and 2) of T- shaped design provided with a foot 41 is adjustably clamped as at 48 to the longitudinal bars 39 and 40. The blanks B are designed to be supported in a stack S within the confines of the stack supports 4|, 43, 44 and 46 in a manner subsequently to be described. It will be noted from the abovedev sleeve 15 and a hollow crosshead scription of parts that the stack supports are, by virtue of the various clamping devices 42. 45 and 48, adjustable toward and away from the center of the stack to accommodate blanks B of varying dimensions. Thus the apparatus is adaptable to body forming machines designed .to manufacture different sizes of can bodies.

The lower longitudinal edges of the stack S are supported upon a pair of dogs 50 (Fig. 14) ,which are pivoted as at 5| within recesses 52 formed in extensions 53 of the front and rear stack supports 44 and 46. Set screws 54 extend through the extensions 53 and bear against the dogs 50 for the purpose of adjusting the latter toward and away from the stack S.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 7 and 8, the lower front and rear edges of the stack S are each sup ported upon a ball bearing roller 55 which is r0- tatably supported within a cage 56 (Fig. 8). suspended from and pivoted as at 51 to a suspension bracket 58 which is bolted as at 59 to either the front or rear longitudinal bar 39 or 4|! as the case may be. The rollers 55 are capable of adjustment toward and away from the stack S by means of adjusting screws 80 which pass through the lower portions of the brackets 53.

The blanks B are adapted to be rapidly withdrawn one at a time from the underneath side of the stack S and fed laterally to a processing unit 6| wherein the grain of the metal of which the blanks are formed is broken and the metal is processed prior to delivery of the blanks to the table 22 of the can body forming machine 20. Toward this end, a pair of threaded supporting shafts 62 and 63 (Figs. 1 and 2) extend transversely across the apparatus at the front and rear thereof respectively and are suspended from the frame-like casting 30 by means of depending brackets 64 and 65 respectively. A chain and sprocket mechanism 36 connects the two shafts 62 and 63 to insure synchronous turning movement thereof. One end of the shaft 63 is squared as at 61 to facilitate angular adjustment thereof.

The supporting shafts 62 and 63 serve to adjustably support thereon .in the medial regions thereof a blank withdrawal and blank feeding or kicker mechanism designated in its entirety at and best illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15. The mechanism 68 is slidably mounted for longitudinal movement on upper and lower guide rods 69 and 10 respectively which are anchored at their ends in end pieces H and 12 respectively. The end pieces are threadedly mounted upon the threaded supporting shafts 62 and 63. Referring now to Fig. 14, the upper and lower guide rods 69 and Hi serve to support thereon a unitary casting I08 which consists of upper and lower sleeves l3 and 14 which are mounted upon the rods 69 and 10 respectively, and are secured thereto in any desired adjusted position by means of set screws I04, and a vertical sleeve 15 extending at right angles thereto. bracket 16 is formed on the sleeve 13 while an angularly disposed bracket 11 is formed on th sleeve 14. A hollow tubular rod 18 is vertically Elidable in the 9 is mounted on the upper end thereof. A pair 'tof readily removable vacuum cups 80 are carried by the'crosshead 19 at opposite ends thereof and are designed for engagement with the central regions of the underneath side of the lowermost blank B of the stack S. In order to apply vacuum pressure to the interior of the vacuum cups 80 when the rod ends 81.

Port 82 is formed in the side of the rod I8 and this port 82 is adapted to register with a port 83 formed-in the sleeve I8 when .the rod I8 is in its uppermost position. The port 88 is connected through a pipe 88 to a source of vacuum pressure (not shown) From the above description, it will be seen that when the rod I8 is moved to its up-' permost position, vacuum pressure will be applied to the vacuum cups 88 through the pipe 84, and conduit 8|. Thus the vacuum cups will by .suction engage the lowermost blank B of the stack S in the central regions thereof. As the rod I8 is moved downwardly, the lowermost blank B I I8 the vacuum port 82 moves out of register with the vacuum port 83 to shut oil the supply of vacuum pressure to the vacuum cup 88 immediately prior to engagement of the blankB carried by the cups 88 with the blank supports 88. Simultaneously with the movement of the ports 82 and 83 out of register, the port 82 communicates with the atmosphere as shown in Fig. 15. Thus the interior of the vacuum cups 88 is relieved of its subatmospheric pressure and the withdrawn blanks B are released by the vacuum cups and placed on the blank supp rts 88.

In order to withdraw the blanks B in rapid succession from the bottom of the stack S, means is provided for causing vertical reciprocation of the rod l8.' Toward this end, a take of! shaft 89 (Fig. 1) of the can body forming machine 28 has a disk 88 mounted on the free end thereof, which disk is provided with an eccentric pin 8| which is connected by means of an extensible link 82 to one'end of a bell cranklever 83 mounted on the angular bracket 11. The other end of the bell crank lever 83 is connected through a link 84 to a head 85 which is secured to the lower end of the reciprocable rod I8 and which is prevented from turning by a pin I88 'that projects through an aperture I8I in the casting I88. Thus it will be seen that as the take oif shaft 88 of the can forming machine 28 rotates, movement there of will be transmitted to the rod I8 through the connections 82, 83 and 88. The link 82 is provided with a squared portion 88 to facilitate ad justment thereof, and thus the uppermost position of the rod I8 may be varied.

The vacuum cups 88 are replaceable on the crosshead I8 and in order to permit access thereto, the entire stack support including the longitudinal bars 38 and 48, the side stack supports 8|, 43, the front and rear stack supports M, 88, the extensions 85 and blank supports 88, is tiltable about the axis of the rock shaft 31 to the position ,shown in dotted llnesin Fig. 1.

Referring now to Fig. 14, it will be seen that the processing unit 6| is positioned adjacent an edge of the table portion 22 of the can body forming machine 28 between the machine and the stack S. Means is provided for periodically feeding or ikicking the blanks B placed on the blank supports 88 longitudinally of-the apparatus thus Upon downward movement of the rod housings.

capable of limited pivotal movement within their feeding the same to the processing unit 8|. Toward this end, a kicker arm-81 in the form of a bell crank lever is adjustably fulcrumed in one of a series of apertures 88 provided invthe bracket I6. One end of the bell crank lever or kicker arm 81 is provided with a hooked portion 88 designed for engagement with the edges of the blanks to be transferred to the processing unit 6| while the other end I88 thereof is connected through an extensible link IN to the head 85. Thus it will be seen that upon reciprocation of the vertical'rod I8, thekickerarm 81 will periodically be moved into engagement with the adja-' cent edge of the blanks B resting on the blank supports 88' in such a manner as to" move the blanks longitudinally and feed the same to the processing unit SI'.

The details of construction of the processing unit 6| are best illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 9 to 14 inclusive. The unit 8| is positioned adjacent an edge of the table portion 22 of the machine 28 and includes upper and lower processing rollers H8 and I I I the ends of which are rotatably journalled in a journal housing H2 and a gear housing H3 (Fig. 13) respectively. The housings H2 and H3 are bolted as at I82 and I83 to the supports 35 and 38 respectively. Upper and lower polished breaker steels or bars HI and H5 respectively cooperate with the processing rollers H8, I II in a manner subsequently to be described to process or break the grain of the body blanks ahead of the rollers just above the path of the oncoming blanks, while the lower steel H5 is positioned behind the rollers and engages the blanks after they have passed between the same.

Referring now to Figs. l1, l2 and 13, the upper roller I I8 is supported at its ends in the housings H2 and H3 in floating roller bearings H8 and III which are carried by bearing cages H8 and H8 respectively pivoted as at I 28 within the The bearing cages H8 and H8 are respective housings against the action of coil springs I2I which bear against these cages and yieldably maintain the same in adjusted position in contact with respective adjusting screws I22 that extend through the housings H2 and H3 and support the free ends of the cages. By tuming the adjusting screws I22 in one direction orthe other the bearing cage H8 may be swung about the axis of the pivot I28 to adjust the distancebetween the processing rollers H8 and III to accommodate blanks of varying thickness. Roller bearings I23 and I28 mounted within the housings H2 and H3 serve to support the lower processing roller HI therebetween.

The extreme ends of the rollers H8 and -III in the gear housing H3 are provided with intermeshing gears I25 and I28 respectively (Figs.

10, ll and 13). The gear I26 meshes with a anv-v ing gear I2'I which ismounted on a stub shaft jects outwardly from the housing H3 and carries at its projecting end a sprocket I38 (Fig. 10) which is driven by means of a chain.I3I" from an electric motor M the support I32 for which is pivotally suspended as at I32 (Fig. 1) from a face plate 133 secured to the supporting structure. 2I' of the machine 28. An adjusting screw- I85 passes through the support I32 and 65 I28 journalled in roller bearings I28 mounted within the housing H3. The stub shaft I28 probears against the face plate I 33 to regulate the tension of the chain I. A. chain guard I34 conceals and protects the chain I3 I.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, the upper breaker steel 4 is in the form of a trapezohedron of narrow width, the lower face I35 of which extends horizontally and is positioned immediately in front of the processing rollers IIO and III slightly above the plane of contact therebetween. The steel II4 is adiustably bolted as at I85 to 9. lug I 31 formed on the cover plate I38 of the housing H2. The lower roller H I is positioned slightly in advance of the upper roller I10 and thus, as the blanks B enter, and pass between the rollers, their path of movement is a downwardly inclined one. As the blanks B arefed to the unit II, the advance edges thereof enter the space between the breaker steel M4 and the lower roller HI and pass between the lower and upper rollers. After the blanks have been engaged by the rollers IIII and III, the rear portion of the blanks bear upwardly against the breaker steel 4 while the rollers I'III and III impart an initial bending to the blanks far beyond the elastic limit of the material from which the blanks are formed.

The lower breaker steel H5 is best illustrated in Fig. 3 and comprises an elongated rectilinear member or bar provided with a lip I39 extending along one longitudinal edge thereof. The upper face I40 of the steel "5 extends substantially horizontally and is positioned immediately behind the processing rollers H and III slightly below the plane of contact therebetween. The lip I39 bears against the lower roller HI and prevents the blanks B issuing from the processing rollers from passing between the low er roller and breaker steel H5. The steel H is bolted as at I4I to a support or cradle M2, the details of construction of which are best illustrated in Fig. 6. The cradle I42 consists of an elongated casting having a clamping surface I43 to which the steel H5 is bolted. A pair of arcuate Euideways I44 are formed in the ends of the cradle I42 and are designed for cooperation with a pair of arcualte ribs I45 formed on the cover plate I38 of the housing 2 and on the body of the housing H3, in

supporting the cradle I42 for til-ting adjustment about a horizontal axis. The cradle I42 partially encircles the lower roller H I and is spaced therefrom in such a manner that the center of curvature of the guideways and ribs I45, I45 falls on the axis of the lower roller III. Thus regardless of the angular adjustment of the support or cradle I42, the longitudinal rib I39 of the breaker steel I'I 5 will bear against the roller III and prevent the forward edges of the blanks B from entering the space between the steel II 5 and roller I I I. In order to adjust the position of the lower steel H5, at lug I41 projects outwardly from the cradle I42 in alignment with a lug I48 (Fig. 1i)v formed on the cover plate I38 of the housing II 2. An adjusting bolt I 49 extends through an aperture I50 provided in the lug I41 and is threadedly received in the lug M8. A relatively heavy coil spring I5I, the ends of which bear against the lugs I41 and I48, normally urges the lug I41 downwardly into engagement with the head of the adjusting bolt I 49 and thus the steel H5 camied by the cradle I42 is yieldingly held in any desired adjusted position behind and in close proximity to the processing rolls IIII, III.

Referring now to Fig. 3, it will be seen that as the blanks B which have already been given an initial bend beyond the elastic limit of the ma-- terial thereof issue from the processing rollers,

IIO, III, the forward edges thereof are directed into enmement with the upper surface I40 of the breaker steel I I! and a reverse bend is imparted to the blanks B which is also beyond the elastic limit of the metal from which the same are formed.

From the above description, it will be seen that the processing unit H is adapted to accommodate blanks of varying physical characteristicsand thickness. I By adjusting the angular position of the cradle I42 or of the breaker steel H4, or both, so that the blanks will issue from the unit 81 in a substantially flat condition, the proper adjustment thereof for any type of blank is attained.

. 1'- After receiving the reverse bend, the blanks o B pass beneath a cover plate I52 which overlies the table portion 22 of the can body forming machine and from thence they are conveyed by the feeder mechanism 23 directly to the forming mandrel thereof (not shown).

The cover plate is pivoted as at I53 to a pair of lugs I-54 formed on the gear housing 3 and journal housing 2 and the tree end thereof is supported on a stationary portion of the machine 20 by means of adjusting screws I55 which may be turned in one direction or the other to adjust the height of the plate above the, processed blanks.

As previously stated, the initial bend imparted to the blanks B by the rollers I10 and III and by the cooperating breaker steel I I4 is carried beyond the elastic limit of the material from which the blanks are formed and thus the "grain of the metal is broken in one direction and the tendency of the blanks is to curl into cylindrical form. A characteristic curve of the relation of bending stress to the distortion of the blanks exhibits two outstanding points, namely the elastic limit and the ultimate strength of the material. The present case is concerned with the behavior of the metal above the elastic limit but below the ultimate strength which is the pointat which the metal, if bent sharply enough would crack or rupture along the line of bending. Up to the elastic limit the metal behaves elastically, returning to its former flat state upon release of the bending force. When the elastic limit is passed, the rate of lncreaseof strain or distortion changes, and is no longer proportional to the rate of increase of bending stress, but is greater. As the elastic limit is passed a marked change in the rate of'increase of distortion occurs and distortion takes place even without change in bending stress. with the passing of the elastic limit, the metal no longer recovers its original flat state but assumes a permanent distortion, set or curl." It will be found that such bending of the metal in one direction beyond the clastic limit thereof increases the elastic limit proportionately to the amount of bending stress applied. It will also be found that the behavior of the metal above its elastic limit will be, or may be said to be, "plastic to distinguish over its former state and ability to return to its original flat condition. On the other hand, the elastic limit of the metal as far as bending stress in the opposite direction is concerned is decreased, and as the blanks are bent in the reverse direction by the application of stress thereto by the lower breaker steel II5 the metal is carried beyond its contacting with the blanks, will roll correspondthat the metal recovers its original flat condition upon returning to a state of equilibrium as the distortion decreases through the elastic range in direct proportion to the decrease in bending stress whichfinally carried themetal up to the new elastic limit. Thus the material is rendered nlastic" as far as bending in either direction is concerned and for ashomt time after stressing beyond the elastic limit, the metal will exhibit lack of a yield point and will possess a character istlc that has heretofore been termed "cold plasticity" which adapts it to a forming process without the occurrence of localized irregularities or flattened areas in the finished can body. The period during which the metal retains its characteristlc of cold plasticity" varies with the physical characteristics of the met-a1 and with the thickness of the blanks. Generally speaking, the thinner the blanks, the more rapidly will the metal thereof lose the characteristic which renders it plastic." Thus it is advantageous to conduct the processed blanks directly to the forming machine from the processing unit 61 and it is for this reason that the present apparatus has been designed as an auxiliary attachment for an existing form of can body forming machine rather than ass. separate entirety in itself.

The modified form of processing unit 6 I shown in Figs. 3a. and 3b is designed for use with can body blanks which are'to be formed into extremely tall cans that are to be vacuumized; By means of the processing unit 6| the can body blanks are beaded in the flat state simultaneously with the processing operation and immediately thereafter the can body blanks are put through the body making machine to produce can bodies having circumferential reinforcing beads thereon. The construction of the. processing unit Si is substantially identical with the construction of the processing unit 6| as far as the various mountings for the upper and lower processing rollers H0 and I H and the breaker steels H4 and H5 are concerned. The upper roller H0 is provided with a series of head forming ribs r which register with a. similar series of beadforming grooves 9 formed in the lower roller Ill. The ribs r conform in shape to the grooves g and,

of such devices may be varied, only one beingemployed if desired.

In order to accommodate the beads thus formed in the body blanks, the breaker steel "5' has formed therein a. series of parallel troughs t in the upper surface thereon into which the corresponding beads formed in the blanks are projected and by means of which the metal of the beads are processed while the metal of the re-' mainder of the blanks is processed in the manner previously described by contact with the flat portions of the upper surface of the breaker steel It will be seen therefore that not only are the flat portions of the blanks processed so as to exhibit cold plasticity as set forth above, but so also are the beaded portions thereof. The lack of a yield point attained by the beaded portions as well as by the fiat portions will enable 2,235,377 f 5 them to be formed with the'remainder of the blanks into cylindrical shape without danger of localized buckling of the bead, providing however that the blanks are put through the body making machine within a reasonable time after the processing operation and before the metal has time to become set and attain a definite yield point.

Modifications and variations may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

I claim: p

1. An apparatus for processing blanks to be used in the making of can bodies comprising a pair of horizontally disposed cooperating processing rolls between which the blanks are adapted to pass; means positioned in close proximity to the roll pass and above the level of one of said rolls and against which said blanks are adapted to bear while passing through said rolls for progressively bending said blanks beyond the elastic limit thereof in one direction; and means 7 positioned in close proximity to-the roll pass and below the level of the other rolland against which said blanks are normally directed solely by the rolls and are adapted to bear while passing through saidrolls for progressively bending said blanks beyond the elastic limit thereof in the other direction, said rolls being so relatively positioned that a plane containing their axes is inclined to the line of delivery of the blanks.

2. An apparatus for processing blanks to be I used in the making of can bodies comprising a. pair of horizontally disposed cooperating procsaid blanks are normally directed solely by the rolls and are adapted to bear while passing through said rolls for bending said blanks beyond the elastic limit thereof in the other direction, said rolls being so relatively positioned that a plane containing their axes is inclined to the line of delivery of the blanks.

3. An apparatus for processing blanks to be used in the making of can bodies comprising a pair of horizontally disposed cooperating processing rolls between which the blanks are adapted to pass, a breaker steel having a. substantially horizontal surface positioned in close proximity to the roll pass and above the level of one of said rolls, said blanks being adapted to' bear against said surface while passing through'said rolls to bend the same beyond the elastic limit 4. An apparatus for processing blanks to be.

used in the making of can bodies comprising upper and lower cooperating rolls which are substantially tangentially disposed with respect to each other and between which said blanks are adapted to pass downwardly and rearwardly;

-means positioned in close proximity to the roll pass and above the level of said lower roller and against which said blanks are adapted to bear while passing through said rolls for progressively bending said blanks beyond the elastic limit thereof in one direction; and means positioned in close proximity to the roll pass and below the level of said upper roller, against which said blanks are normally directed solely by the rolls and are adapted to bear while passing through said rolls for progressively bending said blanks beyond the elastic limit thereof in the other direction, said rolls being so relatively positioned that a plane containing their axes is inclined to the line of delivery of the blanks.

5. An apparatus for processing blanks to be used in the making of can bodies comprising upper and lower cooperating rolls which are substantially tangentially disposed with respect to each other and between which said blanks are adapted to pass downwardly and rearwardly; a breaker steel having a substantially horizontal surface positioned in close proximity to the roll pass and above the level of said upper roll, said blanks being adapted to bear against said surface while passing through said rolls to bend the same beyond the elastic limit thereof in one direction; and a second breaker steel having a substantially horizontal surface positioned in close proximity to the roll pass and below the level of said upper I roll directly in the path of the blanks issuing therefrom, said blanks being adapted to bear against said latter surface while passing through said rolls to bend the same beyond the elastic limit thereof in the other direction, said rolls being so relatively positioned that a plane containing their axes is inclined to the line of delivery of the blanks.

6. An apparatus for processing blanks to be used in the making of can bodies comprising upper and lower cooperating rolls which are substantially tangentially disposed with respect to each other and between which said blanks are adapted to pass downwardly and rearwardly; means positioned in close proximity to the roll pass and forwardly of said rolls and above the level of said lower roller and against which said blanks are adapted to bear while passing through said rolls for progressively bending said blanks beyond the elastic limit thereof in one direction;

and means positioned in close proximity to the roll pass and rearwardly of said rolls and below the level of said upper roller directly in the path of the blanks issuing therefrom and against which said blanks are adapted to bear while passing through said rolls for progressively bending said blanks beyond the elastic limit thereof in the other direction, said rolls being so relatively positioned that a plane containing their axes is inclined tothe line of delivery of the blanks. a

7. An apparatus for processing blanks to be used in the making of can bodies comprising upper and lower cooperating rolls which are substantially tangentially disposed with respect to each other and between which said blanks are adapted to pass downwardly and rearwardly; a

breaker steel having a substantially horizontal surface positioned in close proximity to the roll pass and forwardly of said rolls and above the level of said lower roll, said blanks being adapted to bear against said surface while passing through said rolls to bend the same beyond the elastic limit thereof in one direction: and a sec positioned that a plane containing their axes is inclined to the line of delivery of the blanks.

8. An apparatus for processing blanks to be used in the making of can bodies comprising upper and lower cooperating rolls which are substantially tangentially disposed with respect to each other and between which said blanks are adapted to pass downwardly and rearwardiy; a breaker steel having a substantially horizontal surface positioned forwardly of said rolls "and above the level of said lower roll, said blanks being adapted to bear against said surface while passing through said rolls to bend the same beyond the elastic limit thereof in one direction; a second breaker steel mounted for pivotal movement about the longitudinal axis of said lower roll and having a surface positioned below the level of said upper roll directly in the path of movement of the blanks issuing from said rolls and against which said blanks are adapted to bear while passing through said rolls to bend the same beyond the elastic limit thereof in the other direction; and means for clamping said liiatter breaker steel in a desired adjusted posit on.

9. An apparatus for processing blanks to be used in the making of can bodies comprising upper and lower cooperating rolls which are substantially tangentially disposed with respect to each other and between which said blanks are adapted to pass downwardly and rearwardly; a breaker steel having a substantially horizontal surface positioned forwardly of said rolls and above the level of said lower roll, said blanks being adapted to bear against said surface while passing through said rolls to bend the same be yond the elastic limit thereof in one direction; a second breaker steel having a substantially horizontal surface positioned rearwardly of said rolls directly in the path of the blanks issuing from said rolls and below the level of said upper roll, said blanks being adapted to bear against said latter surface while passingv through said rolls to bend the same beyond the elastic limit thereof in the other direction; and means for ad- Justing the height and inclination of said latter breaker steel within relatively narrow limits.

10. An apparatus for processing blanks to be used in the making of can bodies comprising upper and lower cooperating rolls which are substantially tangentially disposed with respect to each other and between which said blanks are adapted to pass downwardly and rearwardly; means positioned above the level of said rolls forwardly thereof and cooperating with said rolls for progressively bending said blanks beyond the elastic limit thereof in one direction; a breaker steel -mounted for pivotal movement about the longitudinal axis of said lower roll and having a surface positioned below the level of said upper roll against which said blanks are adapted to bear while passing through said rolls to bend the same beyond the elastic limit thereof in the other direction; and means for adjustably clamping said breaker steel in a desired angular. position.

11. An apparatus for processing blanks to be used in the making of can bodies comprising upper and lower cooperating rolls which are substantially tangentially disposed with respect to each other and between which said blanks are adapted to pass downwardly and rearwardly, a breaker steel having a substantially horizontal surface positioned above the level of said lower 'roll, said blanks being adapted to bear against said surface while passing through said rolls to bend the same beyond the elastic limit thereof in one direction; a second breaker steel mounted for limited pivotal movement about the axis of said lower roll; and means for clamping said latter breaker steel in an adjusted position, said latter breaker steel having a surface against which said blanks are adapted tobear while passing through said I rolls for progressively bending the same beyondtheir elastic limit in the other direction.

12. An apparatus for processing blanks to be used in the making of can bodies comprising a pair of cooperating rolls which are substantially tangentially disposed with respect to each other and between which said blanks are adapted to pass; means positioned forwardly of said rolls in close proximity to the line of tangency between the rolls and disposed between said line and a plane tangent to both rolls and cooperating with the rolls for progressively bending said blanks 5 beyond the elastic limit thereof in one direction;

a breaker steel mounted for pivotal movement about the longitudinal axis of one of said rolls' and extending to a region in close proximity to the line of tangency between the rolls and dis- 40 posed between said line and a plane also tangent to both rolls and cooperating with the rolls for bending the blanks beyond their elastic limit in the other direction, and means for adjustably I clamping said breaker steel in a desired angular 45 position.

13. An apparatus for processing blanks to be used in the making of can bodies comprising a pair of cooperating rolls which are substantially tangentially disposed with respect to each other 50 and between which said blanks are adapted to pass; a breaker steel positioned forwardly of said rolls in close proximity to the line of tangency between the rolls and disposed between said line and a plane tangent to both rolls and cooper'at- B5 blanks while simultaneously processing the same.

14. An apparatus for processing blanks to be used in the making of can bodies comprising a pair of cooperating rolls which are substantially tangentially disposed with respect to each other 10 and between which said blanks are adapted to pass; a breaker steel positioned forwardly of said rolls in close proximity to the line of tangency between the rolls and disposed between said line a and a plane tangent to both rolls and cooperating with the rolls for progressively bending said Q blanks beyond the elastic limit thereof in one direction; and a breaker steel positioned rearwardly of said rolls in close proximity to the line of tangency between the rolls and disposed between said line and a plane also tangent to both rolls and cooperating with the rolls for progressively bending said blanks beyond the elastic limit thereof in the other direction, there being a circumferential groove in one of said rolls and a cooperating rib on the other roll for forming a bead onsaid blanks while simultaneously processing the same.

15. An apparatus-for processing blanks to .be used in the making of can bodies comprising a pair of horizontally disposed cooperating processing rolls between which the blanks are adapted to pass; means positioned above the level of one of said rolls and against which said blanks are adapted to bear while passing through said rolls for progressively bending said blanks beyond the elastic limit thereof in one direction; means positioned below the level of the other roll and against which said blanks are normally directed solely by the rolls and are adapted to bear while passing through said rolls for progressively bending said blanks beyond the elastic limit thereof in the other direction; and cooperating means on said rolls for forming a bead in the blanks while' simultaneously processing.

the same.

16. An apparatus for processing blanks to be 7 used in the making of can bodies comprising a pair of horizontally disposed cooperating processing rolls between which the blanks are adapted to pass; means positioned above the level of one of said-rolls and against which said blanks are adapted to bear while passing through saidrolls for progressively bending said blanks be-' yond the elastic limit thereof in one direction; and means positioned below the level of the other roll and against which said blanks are normally directed solely by the rolls and are adapted to bear while passing through said rolls for progressively bending said blanks beyond the elastic limit thereof in the other direction, there being a circumferential groove in one of said rolls and a cooperating rib on the other roll for forming a bead on said blanks while simultaneously processing the same.-

17. An apparatus for processing blanks to be used in the making of can bodies comprising upper and lower cooperating rolls which are substantially tangentially disposed with respect to each other and between which said blanks are adapted to pass downwardly and rearwardly; a breaker steel having a substantially horizontal surface positioned forwardly of said rolls and above the level of said lower roll, said blanks of movement of the blanks issuing from said rolls and against which said blanks are adapted to bearwhile passing through said I)11S to bend the same beyond the elastic limitthereof in the other direction.

. ED LAXO. 

